'Ackley Bridge, Series 1' DVD Review

Racial segregation is coming to an end in most cities and states around our planet. Living together and enjoying the rewards that can be had by joining forces is now being understood. In a small Yorkshire village there are two schools that are trying to integrate Pakistani and white children. The new school will be called Ackley Bridge College. One must understand that this transition is not going to be a peaceful one, but the higher ups at both schools are hoping that eventually calm will be the norm.

Headmistress Mandy (Jo Joyner) is trying to be there for teachers, students and even the parents. Unfortunately, problems at home are making it difficult for her to accomplish all that she is trying to do. Her husband is the PE teacher Stave (Paul Nicholls) and the two are definitely going head to head when they get home. An English teacher named Emma (Liz White) is a free spirited sort of woman until it comes to her daughter coming to school drunk. Friends Missy(Poppy Lee Friar) and Nasreen (Amy-Leigh Hickman) have also been arguing mainly because Missy doesn’t fit in with Nasreen’s Muslim friends.

There are other issues that are being openly discussed like racism, religious differences and homophobia just to name a few. This drama also has a little comedy thrown in but when all is said and done this show simply makes a person think. Acorn is bringing this drama to DVD on May 8th, 2018. The quality of the DVDs is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. I must say this is quality entertainment and will be a wonderful addition to the family library. This will be a good show to sit down with the kids because they will eventually have to deal with some of the situations that are covered. Enjoy.

'Dear Murderer, Series 1' DVD Review

Mike Bungay (Mark Mitchinson) was a lawyer haling out of New Zealand. He took on the profession in the early 1960’s. One would like to say that Bungay had a stellar career with no problems. His childhood wasn’t without problems, it was horrible. He actually chose law by a coin toss. He would ruffle the feathers of his fellow lawyers and would actually do the same to his clients. Bungay would live a very unconventional lifestyle with his love of fast cars and loose women. He loved to drink, and whisky was his choice of beverages. It was with this bravado that he would defend the likes of murderers, gang members, and spies. He would have legal victories but he could never get away from his self destructive tendencies.

In episode one, we get to see Mike Bungay for what he is, a genius of law but a man with many demons. In episode two, our story continues with the defense of Bill Sutch a man accused of spying. We also get to see how his self destructive nature is beginning to take its toll on his personal as well as his professional life. It’s in episode three that Mike will gain more fame but will also suffer a heart attack that finally exposes his destructive lifestyle to the world. There are two more episodes but it would be best for you to discover what they are all about. Mike Bungay’s life is what legends are all about. He was a genius at being a lawyer but showed a human side that would eventually take its toll.

Acorn is bringing this wonderful tale to DVD on May 1st 2018. The DVD quality is excellent and the sights and sounds are terrific. In recent memory New Zealand is coming into its own with its TV dramas. BBC is picking them up and then the United States are seeing them through Acorn TV. This story I must say is one to enjoy. It will be a wonderful addition to that personal library and you will want to view it over and over.

'The House That Dripped Blood' Blu-Ray Review

Our story opens with a Scotland Yard inspector investigating the disappearance of an actor who has just moved into a house with a very mysterious past. The house now becomes the focus of our film and we are privy to four stories that all center around this house of evil.

Our first story, 'Method for Murder' is about a writer who begins to lose the ability of knowing fact from fiction. In essence he is becoming insane and some peculiar things take place. Our second story, 'Waxworks' is about a man who while walking around a wax museum comes upon a wax figure that resembles a woman he once knew. Once again we see the beginnings of a man losing his sanity over something rather simple. Our third story, 'Sweets for the Sweet' is about a governess who is hired to care for a young girl. The governess soon learns that the father is very strict with his daughter and that the daughter is not what she seems. Finally, we come to our last story. 'The Cloak' is a tale of a horror actor who while out shopping in a second hand store comes upon a cloak that he feels will add some realism to a part that he is working on. What he doesn’t realize is that there is more to this cloak than he can imagine.

'The House That Dripped Blood' is a wonderful collection of some of the greatest actors of horror. Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Ingrid Pitt. Along with Denholm Elliott, Jon Pertwee, and Joss Ackland, they give us wonderful performances to make a great show. Although everyone is fantastic in the film it is Jon Pertwee as Paul Henderson the missing horror actor that steals the show.

Scream Factory brings this wonderfully done horror tale to Blu-Ray on May 8th 2018. The quality of the Blu-Ray is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is definitely going to make a wonderful addition to that personal library and it is a definite must see. Our stories are expertly put together and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoy.

'The Accident (L’Accident)' DVD Review

Gabriel Cauvy (Bruno Solo) is a construction head who lives in a tiny village in Brittany, France. He his wife Rebecca, and Luna his daughter reside in the village of Sainte Lune. Their life is good and pretty much free from stress. One day Rebecca begins to act strange and later is involved in a deadly car crash. Rebecca is killed in the accident and their is evidence that she is the cause of the crash. An empty bottle of vodka is found on the passenger seat and many of the village believe she was drinking at the time of the crash. There is just one problem, Rebecca didn’t drink. Another strange part of the accident is the car was stopped in the middle of the road and facing the wrong way.

Gabriel is really a kindhearted individual but he does not want his wife’s name smeared and begins to look for clues as to what really happened in the deadly crash. The police have blamed Rebecca for drunk driving. The villagers have concluded the same thing that Rebecca was drunk at the wheel but, Gabriel soon finds out the villagers are hiding something. The truth is not going to be easily found.

This is a critically acclaimed French import that is a mystery that must be seen. The acting is well done and the sights and sounds are excellent.Acorn brings this DVD to us on April 17th 2018 and the quality is exquisite. This is quality work all around. It’s hard to lose the love of your life and even worse when it’s under suspicious circumstances. Gabriel wants desperately to clear his wife’s name for her sake as well as for his daughter's.  He does not want her growing up hearing all the negative gossip that a small community can dish up. This is a definite for that personal library so don’t waste any time and pick this one up. It will make an afternoon of enjoyable entertainment.

'Backstabbing For Beginners' Blu-Ray Review

Our story is real. It comes from the memoirs of a young man by the name of Michael Soussan. Corruption and greed are all taking place everyday all over this planet. In 2003, the UN was involved in an oil for food scandal that took place around the time of the Iraq invasion. As a young man Michael (Theo James) wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a career diplomat. So after school was finished Michael applied to the United Nations for a job. Now, you really must understand that Michael had naive ways about the world and is wanting to become involved in what most would consider a dream job. Unfortunately, what he later finds out is that not all is peaches and cream. A UN boss in charge of the Oil and Food program sees the application of the young Michael and wants to interview him. Pasha (Ben Kingsley) is impressed and hires the young man. Michael is soon off to Baghdad and finds out that his life is about to be turned upside down.

Pasha wants everything done quickly, expediently. He also doesn’t want young Michael to lie about anything. Oh, he really wants no lying, but stretching the truth is allowed. Michael does well for himself and soon is able to handle the job. What he learns in the process is that there is so much corruption going on it would make your head swim. A rival of Pasha is Christine Du Pre a person who can’t stand what’s going on within the system. Not only is all the corruption pretty much on a global scale, there is also murders that are taking place.

Lionsgate brings this exciting thriller to Blu-Ray on April 24th 2018. The quality of the Blu-Ray is very good and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is a very enjoyable film that you will not want to miss. It will also be a wonderful addition to that personal library. So look for it in the coming weeks and enjoy.

'Braven' Blu-Ray Review

The idea of a young boy and his father out in the woods whether it be camping or staying in a hunting cabin, is a dream come true. At least it was for me when I was growing up. My father was a busy man and the chances of a weekend with my father were slim and none. Joe Braven (Jason Momoa) is about to experience this joy with his father (Stephen Lang), or is he.

The trip to the hunting cabin was pretty uneventful. The two thought it was going to be a quiet enjoyable time that weekend until they find a stash of heroin that was left in the cabin they were staying in. Now, finding the heroin is not really the big problem here, but what is the problem is whether or not the drug dealers are going to come back and retrieve their drugs. The Bravens worst nightmare does come true and the bad guys do show up to get the heroin. In their favor is the fact that they came prepared to go hunting so Joe and his father do have guns and ammo. The question is do they have enough firepower to withstand the onslaught that the drug dealers might have brought with them? The father and son must decide if they are going to stand up to these criminals or run away and simply give up the heroin. My choice would be to give them what they came for and leave. What the Bravens do is up to you to watch the show and see for yourself.

Lionsgate brings this action packed thriller to Blu-Ray on April 10th 2018. The quality of the Blu-Ray is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is a wonderful film that will be a wonderful addition to that personal library. So don’t waste any time and pick this one up today.